The trucking industry has been an essential industry since the first truck hit the road. The need for qualified professional truck driver has never been greater than it is today. There are those on the front line in the trucks and those behind the scenes preparing the next generation of professional truck drivers.
Jorge Correa drove trucks professionally for over ten years before moving into an instructors role. We invited Jorge to take IRIS, our virtual reality truck driver training software, for a test drive!
Technology can be a little intimidating for some folks and Jorge was no different. We asked Jorge what his comfort level with technology in general was between 1 and 10. “5 at the moment, but I am very motivated to improve my skills!”, he replied. So we dove right in!
Our approach was simple. First we explained why the immersive experience in VR technology is much more effective for capturing students attention in a session and having them retain up to 40% of what they are being taught. When a student puts the headset on you have 100% of their attention, there are absolutely no external distractions! Studies have long shown that students retain 90% of what they do versus 50% of what they see. And in IRIS the students are doing!
With a headset on Jorge proceeded with the IRIS Circle Check module. It took him no time at all to start checking off the list on his circle check. Jorge looked very comfortable to us and we were anxious to ask him about his experience once he had completed the circle check.
After about 20 minutes he had completed his first ever VR training session performing a circle check and we asked him about it.
iMVR: How did you feel coming into this training session?
Jorge: I was excited to try the VR technology but was apprehensive because my computer skills are a little rusty.
iMVR: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate experience with the IRIS Platform?
Jorge: I would rate it an 8 for sure
iMVR: Do you think IRIS could be an important tool in training professional truck drivers?
Jorge: Absolutely! To be able to do the inspection inside in a controlled environment makes it easier to teach when you don’t have to worry about the weather conditions or equipment availability
iMVR:What do you think the most important opportunity using IRIS to teach is?
Jorge: Inspections, rules of the road and the ability to track the eye movement of the drivers
iMVR: Would you recommend IRIS to truck driver training schools?
Jorge: I would definitely recommend IRIS to truck driver training schools. It is great to be a part of the leading technology which will assist the transportation industry in making roads safer.
It was great to see another experienced trucking professional adopt a new skill that will help train the next generation of professional truck drivers. Jorge successfully completed the train the trainer course to ensure he understands how the complete system works. Now as certified IRIS training instructor, he can take those skills back to the truck driver training school he is employed by. For us it was another successful moment in the growing adoption of VR technology by experienced trucking personnel in the trucking industry. Our mission is to provide the tools to train more effectively and faster so that more new drivers hit the road safely and prepared.
As more trainers come through the doors and more companies adopt IRIS, we feel good about the future of professional truck driver training! Are you next?
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Vickie’s vision is to create a VR tool that will allow professional drivers to develop, repeatedly practice, and become comfortable with various driving techniques throughout their career. This understanding and comfort will create more confident professional drivers that will inherently lead to increased road safety.